For safety's sake, stay clear of Lake Scugog for now

Oshawa This Week

Weather forecasts call for mild temperatures this weekend, perhaps reaching to 10 C before dropping again to more seasonal norms next week.

In Scugog, that forecast provides fair warning for winter enthusiasts to stay clear of the lake in their weekend pursuits. This stretch of balmy weather is either good timing or bad, depending on whether you're a snowmobiler or a Scugog first responder called upon in emergencies. But the news comes just days after Scugog fire officials issued a stern warning to local residents that the lake has not yet formed ice thick enough for lake traffic, and urged them to stay away in the meantime.

Indeed, say fire officials, ice fishermen, snowmobilers and other outdoor enthusiasts should wait for temperatures to remain at -10 C for at least a week or two before venturing out onto the surface of Lake Scugog.

It would be an exaggeration to suggest that Scugog officials spend the better part of every winter season fishing hapless residents and visitors out of the lake. According to statistics, the Scugog Fire Department responded to 25 calls for help on the lake -- 15 water rescues and another 10 on ice -- between 2001 and 2011. That represents a tiny fraction of the calls for service handled annually by the local fire service, but it is an issue they confront and such rescues are prohibitively expensive.

And more often than not, simple common sense, and an awareness of the conditions are all that is required to prevent potential tragedies on the lake.

Winter in Scugog provides a bounty of opportunities for enjoying the great outdoors, with the lake as the focal point. Whether carving paths in fresh powder, dropping a line in a carefully drilled hole in the ice, or just venturing out with friends for a walk, danger can lurk.

We urge every resident to be patient and wait for more co-operation from Mother Nature, to check with local officials to determine the integrity of the ice cover before venturing out, and to exercise care at all times.

There is still plenty of time in the season, and plenty of opportunity for fun. Let's be patient, be careful and be knowledgeable about the conditions. Have fun and enjoy yourself, with safety practices as your guide.
-- Port Perry Star